Australia Tourist Visa: What subclass you should apply for & what NOT to do

If you want to visit Australia for a holiday, or to visit family or friends, under most circumstances you will need to apply for one of three Australia tourist visa types before you leave your home country.

The three main classes of Australia tourist visas are:

• Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601)
• eVisitor (subclass 651)
• Visitor visa (subclass 600).

The Australia tourist visa you apply for depends on your own citizenship status.

For residents of Europe, the UK, the United States and parts of Asia, subclass 601 or subclass 651 are the most popular choice. Subclass 651 is free for EU passport holders!

All other passport holders should look at subclass 600 visas.

Here, we provided a more detailed overview of your options for an Australia tourist visas.

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Electronic Travel Authority Visa (subclass 601)

For eligible passport holders, this is the most common Australia Tourist Visa to apply for.

Stay: Up to 3 months. The visa allows multiple entries. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while it is valid. You can remain in Australia for 3 months after each entry.
Activities: Holiday, cruise, visit family or friends, undertake business travel.
Application: Apply electronically using the Australian ETA App.
Cost: AU$20
Processing time: Fast – your application will be granted immediately if you are a genuine travellers and have completed the application process accurately and honestly.

You will be eligible for an Australia Electronic Travel Authority Visa if you hold a passport from one of these countries:

Click here for a detailed guide on applying for an Electronic Travel Authority Visa via the ETA App.

eVisitor Visa (subclass 651)

The eVisitor Visa is designed for European passport holders, and is designed to reciprocate the free tourist visa application process the EU affords to Australian citizens.

Stay: Up to 3 months. The visa allows multiple entries. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while it is valid. You can remain in Australia for 3 months after each entry.
Activities: Holiday, cruise, visit family or friends, undertake business travel.
Application: Apply electronically via the Australian Government ImmiAccount portal.
Cost: FREE
Processing time: Fast – your application will be granted immediately if you are a genuine travellers and have completed the application process accurately and honestly.

Visitor Visa (subclass 600)

For passport holders of all other countries not listed above.

Or, if you hold a passport for a country listed above, but have a criminal conviction, the you’ll need to apply for this visa class.

This visa has steams which you will also need to choose from. These are the three most common:

Tourist Stream (apply outside of Australia)

The most common visa applied for by nationals of countries not eligible for subclass 651 or 601.

Stay: If your application is succeful, the Government will grant you a visa for a stay of either 3, 6, or 12 months.
Activities: Holiday, cruise, visit family or friends, undertake business travel.
Application: Apply electronically via the Australian Government ImmiAccount portal.
Cost: AU$195
Processing time: Usually within one week.

Tourist Stream (apply in Australia)

Suitable for people already in Australia on another visa, who want to extend their stay for holidays, or family or friend visits.

Stay: If your application is succeful, the Government will grant you a visa for a stay of either 3, 6, or 12 months.
Activities: Holiday, cruise, visit family or friends.
Application: Apply electronically via the Australian Government ImmiAccount portal.
Cost: AU$490
Processing time: Usually within one week.

Business Visitor Stream

Suitable for people wanting to enter Australian for business meetings or conferences. However, you are unable to see goods or services while in Australia.

Stay: Up to 3 months.
Activities: Business, but not selling goods or services
Application: Apply electronically via the Australian Government ImmiAccount portal.
Cost: AU$195
Processing time: Usually within one week.

There are also seperate streams for Chinese nationals who are frequent visitors for business or family reasons, Chinese nationals visiting Australia on organised tours, and visitors sponsored by family in Australia. You can see details about these additional subclasses here.

Everything you need to know about the visitor visa subclass 600

Required documents for an Australia tourist visa

Before applying for an Australian visitor visa, make sure you collect all the required documents. Make sure each document is a scanned copy of the original document and is clear to read, and in case of documents that are in any other language than English, make sure to attach a translated copy alongside. Following is a list of all the required documents for an Australian tourist visa:

• Passport
• Copy of Passport’s first page 
• Recent passport-sized photographs 
• Proof of Finances
• Proof of Medical Insurance
• If applicable: Letter from School or Letter from Employer or Letter of Invitation
• Completed and Signed Form 1257 
• Completed and Signed Form 1229
• Evidence of your commitment to return to your home country before the visa expires

All these documents should be thoroughly checked for typos and should be consistent in your details. Make sure that each copy that you attach with your application is a color print, and is nototirzed.

Applying for an Australia tourist visa online (subclass 600)

There are 4 steps in applying for an Australian Tourist visa online and they are as follows:

1. Create an ImmiAccount 

The first step is to create an ImmiAccount. Here is a link to the website. You will need to provide your details while creating the account so make sure you have them handy. Also, make sure that all the details you add are consistent with the documents that you will attach later on. 

2. Complete the online visa application form 

Choose the visa stream you wish to apply for. In this case, it will be Visitor Visa Subclass 600. Fill out the visa application form thoroughly. Make sure to double-check your entered details. After completing the form, submit it. 

3. Pay the visa processing fee

Next, pay the processing fee for the visitor visa which is around A$195 to A$1,435 depending on your chosen visa stream. You will have to attach the proof of your payment to your ImmiAccount. 

4. Wait for the application outcome

Finally, wait for your application to be processed and hopefully, granted. You can check the current visa processing times here. 

Applying for an Australia tourist visa at the Embassy

There are 5 steps in applying for an Australian Tourist visa at the Embassy and they are as follows:

1. Get an appointment date

First of all, you will need to select the nearest Australian embassy to you and make an appointment. 

2. Complete the application form  

Next, complete the application form that you can get online or from the embassy. Make sure to double-check all of your entered details and that they are consistent with your documents. 

3. Pay the processing fee 

Next, pay the processing fee for the visitor visa which is around A$195 to A$1,435 depending on your chosen visa stream. You will have to attach the proof of your payment with your application so make sure to keep the receipt with you. 

4. Submit the application at the embassy 

On the day of the appointment, make sure to take extra copies of all your documents and then submit the application with the receipt of the processing payment.  

5. Wait for the application outcome

Finally, wait for your application to be processed and hopefully, granted. You can check the current visa processing times here. 

What NOT to do when applying for the Visitor Visa Subclass 600

The Australian immigration is very meticulous. They check every detail and document you provide with great detail. So to give yourself the best chance of a successful Australia tourist visa applicaiton, do not do the following things:

Don’t give wrong or forged documents 

The worst thing that you can do to decrease your chances of getting an Australian visa or any visa for that matter, is give wrong or forged documents. These immigration agencies are known for their checking and if they find any foul play from your end, they might cancel your application in a second. So make sure you provide accurate documents only. 

Don’t choose the wrong visa stream 

There are various visa streams (as outlined above) for you to choose from when applying for a tourist visa. Make sure you choose the one that is best suited to your needs and your situation.

If the immigration finds any ulterior motive behind your application, they will refuse your visa. It’s best to be honest, or you could be refused entry forever!

Don’t do what suited others 

Finally, we have seen a lot of cases where people try and copy the choices of other people who got their visas accepted. We do not suggest you do that. What might work for others may not work for you and therefore might result in the cancellation of your application.

So ensure you make choices based on your situation only. 

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